just a rant

"some make others happy and help the world. those people they help may never know anything had to be done for them to get that fresh food or water, or be able to go to school, or get that present on their birthday. though recognition isn't necessary, those people affected get so much out of knowing someone cares for them. even if they realize someone else made one of those, or many other, things possible, what are the chances the two will ever meet and carry on a conversation more than once or twice? what are the chances they'll ever meet? throw some stuff in a donation box and be done with it. travel the world to bring about bigger change but do it through ambassadors and leaders. their work is noble, no question about it, but there is more to be had in some ways.

 

helping en masse is never a bad thing, but helping on a, possibly smaller, more personal level can be just as or more rewarding. it can be helpful on an individual basis as opposed to a group basis. the awesome thing is you may not being making a conscious effort to help anyone, and that person may not be making a conscious effort to ask or receive help. however, the benefits come soon enough. it's about interaction as much as it is causing change. people may not be lacking food or money to an extent as to ask for help, but other things are necessary to lead a meaningful, fulfilled life. we're the lucky ones. we know we'll get by somehow. we always do. that isn't so for some, but it is for us. therefore, our talents should be focused on the bigger picture: making the world a better place through its people.

 

it's all a chain. communication is one of the greatest tools we utilize as humans. when a plan is made to help a large number of people, why should communication between the giver and the receivers be no longer a necessity? it's because people don't have time. it's because people don't want to be recognized for what they do. that somehow makes it less of a good deed. i say sign your name to every can of food and pack of pencils. it doesn't matter what the name is. it matters that there is a name there of someone who wants you to succeed. someone who wants you to be happy. in all actuality, personal mental and emotional growth aren't required for the act of living, but they're vital nonetheless.

you have to be happy, TRULY happy, before you can see the world as good and the things you do in it as beneficial. others are already there. others already know."

"'it's because people don't have time. it's because people don't want to be recognized for what they do. that somehow makes it less of a good deed. i say sign your name to every can of food and pack of pencils. it doesn't matter what the name is. it matters that there is a name there of someone who wants you to succeed.'

I think that's a very interesting point. I've not heard anyone look at it like that before. We fall into the stereotype of generosity and philanthropy: "do unto others as you wish them to do unto you",  and giving is only giving if you don't ask for anything in return. And the like.

My old roommate and I used to have this argument that all actions are selfish. I think I was on the side that it was true, and he was adamantly (get it, adam-antly) against it. I always found it to be a surprising argument because he was a very honest, very brash, very instinctual. And I was very nice, very amiable, very passive. But I would argue with him, "Of course everything we do can be considered "selfish". We're fighting to stay alive. Even if you boil down love, you're in love because it makes you personally feel good. Or even if you boil down justice and morality: you chase down a purse-snatcher on the street because you'll feel like you triumphed over the adversary." And that's not to say we don't want justice or righteousness or love. But I felt like it certainly could be argued that we're doing things for our inner core. 

But while that is true, we can learn to counter that feeling by reflecting those feelings outward towards others. If we feel good about sending pencils or a can of food to Africa, it's that simple: we feel good about it because we can rest assured we've done good. But if you let it ripple you even add a person touch like signing your name to the box and you're addressing that "selfishness". And once you address something it looses it's power, or you gain control over it. And so with your point it seems like yes, we're doing some of these actions for ourselves, but we know it, and therefore that feeling dwindles and allows the goodness of it to have wings.

I'm happy you wrote. I love reading messages from friends. I don't want the letter to become a lost art. So many emails are a few sentences just making demands or saying "hey". We need to keep the art of the pen pal and the real person to person sharing alive."